Local Politicians Rally In Support Of Obama's Immigration Policy
(CBS) -- U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez Saturday challenged Chicago's undocumented community to "set the standard" for registration under President Obama's executive orders.
"This isn't complicated," Guiterrez (D-Ill.) said to a receptive crowd at Benito Juarez High School. "Ever church will be a designated site. Every community college will be a designated site. Every school will be a designated site. Every health care center will be a designated site."
He said his goal was to provide training "for not hundreds but thousands of people so that millions can reach justice in this country."
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Yet Gutierrez said executive action by the President is not in itself enough. He called Republican critics of the action "whiners" and challenged them to pass a comprehensive immigration bill before the President's executive orders take effect.
"It's 180 days," he said. "You have January, February, March, April, May and June. Stop whining. Stop crying. You have a majority. Use it for the American people and we will be appreciative."
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) echoed Gutierrez and said the President's action, while historic, is not the last word.
"He would be the first to tell you we want more," Durbin said. "We want comprehensive immigration reform to reach out with justice to the millions who deserve this opportunity in America."
Durbin said he "will not rest" until an immigration bill is on the President's desk.
The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights hosted the rally and a question-and-answer workshop for community organizations afterward.
Its chair, Maria Pesquiera, called Mr. Obama's action "a major benchmark in the fight for immigrant rights."
"Millions of people will be able to breathe a little easier knowing they will not be separated from their loved ones," she said.
Undocumented Juarez graduate and college freshman Clemencia Garcia told the crowd it is a big moment for her, her three younger sisters and her undocumented parents.
"Obama's executive order on immigration has given the undocumented community great hope in this country," Garcia said. "Knowing that my parents won't have to face deportation and leave behind three underage daughters who are citizens of this country is very gratifying."
Representatives from the Asian-American community said hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants of Asian heritage will be helped as well.
Lame duck Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn attended the rally but did not speak. He was thanked by several speakers for his efforts on behalf of the undocumented, such as making Illinois driver's licenses available and refusing to cooperate with federal Secure Communities initiatives.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel told the crowd "Chicago is ready," but said, "Our work's not done. This is the beginning."
Emanuel drew a mixed reaction from the crowd. Some do not consider him a friend to the immigrant community and chanted in support of one of his February re-election challengers, Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, who was acknowledged by others from the stage.
Nonetheless, Emanuel said, "I want Chicago to be the gold standard that achieves record numbers of relief and make sure that more and more people take advantage of this great opportunity the President has provided all of us."
Gutierrez, who is a co-chair of Emanuel's re-election campaign, picked up on that theme in his remarks.
"If they don't do it right in LA, and they don't do it right in New York, we'll send volunteers from Chicago to make sure they get it right," he said.
